The day after hearing the Gospel of the wise and foolish virgins, I find myself reflecting on the oil the wise virgins carried. It is a striking image because it represents something deeply personal: our love for Christ, our relationship with Him, our daily yes to His presence.
No one else can provide that for us.
We can be inspired by the faith of others. We can learn from the saints. We can be strengthened by the prayers of family and friends. But no one can love Jesus in our place. No one can substitute their friendship with Him for our own.
Yet there is great hope in this realization. The wisdom we need is not hidden from us. God does not reserve intimacy with Himself for a select few. Scripture tells us that wisdom is found by those who seek her and readily perceived by those who love her. The Lord desires to be found even more than we desire to find Him.
Perhaps the saddest part of the parable is not that the foolish virgins lacked oil, but that they failed to recognize the mercy of the Bridegroom. What if, instead of running elsewhere, they had remained and cried out:
“Lord, Lord, we have been foolish. But You are our light. Have mercy on us.”
The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus delights in awakening sleeping hearts. He can rekindle what has grown cold, restore what has been neglected, and fill what is empty. The Bridegroom never tires of inviting us back to Himself.
Today is a beautiful day to check the lamp of our own heart. Not with fear, but with trust.
Have I spoken with Him today? Have I made room for Him in the ordinary moments? Have I allowed His love to become the oil that sustains my faith?
For every moment spent turning toward Christ is a moment spent preparing for His coming.
And if we continue to bless Him, seek Him, and call upon His name, we will discover that no act of love is ever wasted. The Bridegroom is near, and His mercy is always greater than our foolishness.
